Braiding-machine.



S. W. WARDWELL.

BRAIDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION IILED MAR.17, 1911.

1,085,369. Patented Jan. 27, 1914.

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Wrnvroe S. W. WARDWELL.

BRAIDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.17, 1911.

Patented Jan. 27, 1914.

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WITNESSES 7w. (3.

lrrap/yeys S. W. WARDWELL.

BRAIDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.17, 1911.

Patented Jan. 27, 1914.

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J-d3mw' SIMON W. WARDWELL OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

BRAIDING-MAGHINE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 27, 1914.

Application filed March 17, 1911. Serial No. 615,076.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SIMQN W. WARDWELL,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county ofProvidence and State of Rhode Island, have invented cering these objectsare fully described in the following specification, illustrated by theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of theclutchmechanism of the machine, showing the means for operating the sameand also a portion of the brake-ring which cooperates therewith; Fig. 2,a side elevation of the same; Fig. 3, a detail view of the detent meansfor the clutch-operating mechanism; Fig. 4, a side elevation of thebrake-ring, showing the actuatin devices therefor; Fig. 5, a detail viewof t e same, part sectional on the line AA of Fig. 4, looking in thedirection indicated by the arrow to.

My improved device is adapted to be applied to a machine of the same orsimilar structure as that shown and described in my patent abovereferred to, in which the yarn supplies are carried and revolved byrotating turrets operated from a common driv} in shaft.

Tteferring to Fig. 1, 3 is the main driving shaft of the machine adaptedto rotate in the horizontal bearing 4 which is preferably attached toand overhangs the base 5 of the machine frame. At the outer end of theshaft 3 is fixedly secured the clutchmember 6 through which the shaft isdriven from the belt pulley 7. The clutch 6 is secured to the shaft 3 bya pin 8 projecting through a transverse hole 9 in its hub 10 and acorresponding hole 11 in the shaft. The periphery of the hub' 10 isscored with a shallow groove 12 in line with one side of the hole 9, andinto this is sprung a split, wire ring 13. The pin 8 is not driventhrough the hub '10 and shift 3, but has a comparatively easy fit and he'13 surrounds the hub and engages both ends. of the pin to hold it inplace. Then it is reguired to remote the clutch from'the shaft it isonly necessary to spring the ring 13 out or its groove and the pin 8 canthen be easily pushed out.

The clutch 6 is formed with an overhanging rim 14 having a beveled face15 on its periphery adapted to engage the" interior beveled face 16 onthe rim of the pulley 7. The pulley 7 is arranged to slide on the shaft3 to carry it in and out of engagement with the clutch 6 and ismaintained in engagement therewith by a springressed sleeve 17 arrangedas follows: Abutting the end face 20 of the bearing 4 is a washer 21against which the end of a coiled spring 22 bears. The spring 22 nularchamber 23 extending nearly the length of the sleeve 17, and bears onthe bottom of the pocket to press the sleeve in the direction indicatedby the arrow a, Fig. 1. The end of the sleeve 17 abuts the hub 18 of thepulley 7 and, therefore, the action of the spring 22 is normally tomaintain the pulley in engagement with the clutch 6. The pulley7 iswithdrawn from engagement with the clutch 6 by means of an arm 24 having2. lug 25 at its end adapted to engage the side of a flange 26 on thehub 18. arm 24 also has a second lug 25 adapted to bear against a flange17 on the sleeve 17 to slide the latter away from the pulley 7 as laterexplained. The arm 24 slides on a guiding lug27 which projects from theside of the bearing 4 through a slot 28 in the arm. A washer 29 securedto the lug 27 by the stud 30 retains the arm 24 in position on the lug.The opposite end of the arm 24 is connected by a pin 19 to one arm 31 ofa lever 32 through which the clutch-mechanism is operated manually tostart the machined The lever 32 is also adapted to be operated from asecond lever 33 actuated from the stopping mechanism of the machine andcontrolled by a spring 34. The lever 32 is pivoted on a stud 35 whichextends upward from a boss 36 projecting from the bearing 4, see Fig. 2.The lever 33 is also pivoted on the stud 35 with its hub 37 surmountingthe hub 38 of the lever 32.

is pocketed in an an-' The - ward from an arm disconnection oi To onearm 39 of the lever 33 is fastened the spring 34 which has its oppositeend secured to the stud 30 extending from the bearing 4.

The two levers 32 and 33 are connected to operate together by a pin 40extending up- 41' of the lever 32 and projecting through a hole 42 inthe arm 43 of the lever The hole 42 is slightly larger than the pin 40to provide a clearance so that the lever 32 can be 'moved independentlyof the lever 33 for a purpose later explained. Pivoted at the extremityof the arm 43 of the lever 33 is a pawl 44 formed with a shoulder 45adapted to engage a corresponding shoulder on the lock-pin 46 which isdriven into the bearing 4, see Figs. 1 and 3. Preferably the pawl 44 isconstructed with a small piece 47 of hardened steel fastened in positionwith its edge forming the shoulder which engages the edge of thelock-pin 46, this construction providing against wear. The pawl 44 actsas a detent for the lever 33 to hold the latter against the action ofthe spring 34. A spring 48 fastened at one end to a tail 49 on the pawl44 and at its opposite end to a lug 50 on the lever 33 acts to normallymaintain the pawl 44 in engagement with the'lock-pin 46. The

pawl 44 is adapted to be released from thelock-pin by movement of thelever 32 as now described: Extending from the hub of the pawl 44 is alug 51 positioned adjacent the end of the pin 40. When the lever 32 ismoved manually in the direction indicated by the arrow 6 the pin 40 willengage the side of the lug 51 and rock the pawl 44 to release itsshoulder from. the lock-pin 46. The purpose of the clearance for the pin40 in the hole 42 will now be evident as it will be seen that it allowsthe lever 32 to be moved to release the detent pawl 44 without affectingthe position of the lever 33 which -must remain stationary until thepawl is disengaged from the pin 46. The detent pawl 44 is also adaptedto be released through instrumentalities actuated by thestopping-devices of the machine, controlled by the yarns delivering tothe braid, as next described. As more fully shown and described in mypatent before referred to the rotation of the turrets is checked afterthe the driving means by a normally stationary brake-ring 55 mounted onthe base 5 of the machine frame. The ring 55 is adapted to be movedrotatively on its bearing 56, see Figs. 4 and 5, by means operated bythe yarn-controlled drop-wires which coact with the feeler-levers 57.

The arrangement of drop-wires for the yarns is shown and'described in mypending application, Serial No. 605,266, filed January 28th, 1911, andwill not be here described in detail as it is sufficient to explain thatwhen a drop-wire is released by the yarn it operates the feeler levers57 as next described.

Referring bracket which is mounted on the turret'61 and revolves aboutthe axis of the machine in the direction indicated by the arrow 0. Thereare several of these brackets arranged around-the machine, generally anequal numher to the number of supply cops of'yarn emplo ed, as morefully shown and de-' scribe in the application last referred to, andeach bracket carries a feeler lever 57. The lever 57 is preferablypivoted at 58 to adapt its end to be tilted downward into-the path ofthe brake-arm 62. The arm 62 is pivoted at 63 on the base 5 of themachine frame and prefera ly there is the same number of brake-arms asthere is brackets, spaced equidistantly around the machine. The arm 62is connected to move the brake-ring 55 by to Fig. 4, 60 designates ameans of a stud 64 screwed into the ring a i with its head 65 projectingthrough a slot 66 in the arm. The arm 62 is preferably constructed ofsheet metal with its upper 'end twisted at right-angles to the bodyportion to form the head 67, see Fig. 5. The brake-ring 55, as beforeexplained, is mounted on the flange or hearing 56 and is formed with aninterior beveled face 68. The bevel 68 is adapted to be frictionally'engaged with an oppositely beveled face 69 on the rotating turret 61'.This engagement is effected-by 9 the rotary movement of the ring whichcauses it to be raised from its bearing 56 as now explained: Fastened tothe ring 551-is a wedge-block 71. which is formed with a beveled face 72adapted to engage an oppositely beveled face 7 3 on. a projection 74 ofthe wedge-block 75, the latter being secured to the base 5 of themachine frame.

The wedge-blocks 71 and 75 are constructed and secured in position in anovel man ner as now described: Both the ring 55 and base 5 are providedwith circumferentially extending grooves,- 77 respectively, and and 75are formed with projections or splines fitted to these grooves.Preferably the wedge-blocks are constructed of sheetmetal and theprojections are formed by indenting the metal on one side to force itout on the other. In this way the projections 78 and 79, seeFig. 5, areformed at the same operation as the stamping out of the blocks by theemployment of suitable punches and dies in a usual form of droppress.The block 75 is secured to the base 5 by a screw 80 and the twoprojections 7 9, spaced some distance apart and fitting the groove 77,hold the block from turning on the screw. The arm 62 is preferablypivoted onthe block 75 by the rivet 63 to obviate the necessity oftapping a hole in the base 5. The block 71 is secured to the brakering55 by the same stud 64 which engages the slot in the arm 62. The shankof the stud 64 extends through a slot 81 in the designated 76 and k thewedge-blocks"71 wedge-block 71 and its head is screwed against the faceof the block to bind the latter against the ring 55. The slot 81 allowsthe block 71 to be adjusted laterally in relation to the block 75, sothat the beveled faces 72 and 73 may be set to engage each other at theproper time, and, as in the case of the block 75, the projections 78fitted to the slot 76 prevent the block 71 from turning on the stud 64.It will be seen that the novel construction just described shows markedimprovement over that disclosed in my patent first referred to herein,as the parts are much simpler and can be manufactured at less cost.Furthermore, only two screws are necessary for the whole arrangementdescribed, one of them being adapted to serve two purposes.

As before stated, the brake-ring 55 is initially operated from theturret 61 through the engagement of one of the levers 57 with one of thearms 62. A slight ro tary motion is given to the brake-ring by theprying action of the arm 62 as the lever 57 wipes across its upper endand this movement. of the ring is adapted to release the detent meansfor the clutch-mechanism as now described.

Referring to Fig. 1, a tripping element 85 is secured to the peripheryof the brake ring 55 by the screws 86 extending through the flange 95and is formed with an inclined portion 87 extending adjacent theextremity of the detent pawl 44. As the ring 55 is moved rotatively inthe direction indicated by the arrow 0, the curved edge 88 of the member85 engages the rounded end of the pawl 44 and forces it outward torelease its shoulder from the lock-pin 46. The pawl 44 is pivoted on apin 89 extending upward from the arm 43 of the lever 33 and screwed intothe end of this pin is one end 90 of a wire staple 91, see Figs. 1 and3. The other leg 92 of the staple 91 engages a slot 93 in the projectingportion 87 of the member 85. A hairpin-shaped spring 94 is secured tothe member 85 with one end 96 extending down through a hole in thelatter and the loop portion 97 abutting the flange 95. The opposite endof the spring 94 is coiled around the leg 92 of the staple 91 and thetendency of the spring is to normally main tain the staple 91 at the endof the slot 93 in the position illustrated in Fig. 1.

Having now described the construction and arrangement of the parts indetail the method'o operation of the whole device will next beexplained: To start the machine the lever 32 is moved in the directionopposite to that indicated by the arrow 6, Fig. 1. The arm 41 of thelever 32, carrying the pin 40, will then act through the latter to movethe lever to slide the member 24 in the direction indicated by the arrow(1. This movement carries the lugs 25 and 25 on the arm 24 away from theflange 26 of the driving-pulley 7 and the flange 17" on the sleeve 17respectively, so that the spring 22, acting through the sleeve 17,forces the pulley into engagementwith the clutch 6. During the movementof the lever 33 to release the driving-pulley the pawl 44 is carriedinto position to allow its shoulder 45 to engage the lock-pin 46 andsuch engagement is effected by the action of the spring 48 tending toswing the end of thepawl toward the pin. The engagement of the pawlwith'the lockpin holds the lever 33 against the tension of the spring34, and it will be noticed that the lugs 25 and 25 are then free of theflanges 26 and 17 so that the pulley 7 and sleeve 17 rotate withoutfrictional contact with the arm 24. The sleeve 17 pulley 7 and clutch 6will rotate as a unit with the shaft 3 and the latter is thereby drivenfrom the belt on the pulley to operate the machine.

When it is desired to stop the machine by manual control the lever 32 ispressed in the direction indicated by the arrow 6, Fig. 1. The firstmovement of the lever 32 will carry the pin 40 against the lug 51 on thepawl 44 and the latter will be rocked thereby to disengage its shoulderfrom the lock-pin 46. The release of the pawl 44 allows the lever 33 tobe moved under action of the spring 34, and, through the pin 40, themovement of the lever 32 is continued to slide the arm 24 in thedirection opposite to that indicated by the arrow at to withdraw thepulley 7 from the clutch 6. It is called to attention that there is lessclearance between the lug 25 and the flange 17 than there is between thelug 25 and flange 26 when the arm 24 is in the position illustrated inFig. 1, with the pulley 7 in engagement with the clutch 6. This is toprovide that when the arm is moved in the direction just described itsaction will be to first cause engagement between the lug 25 and flange17, before the lug 25 engages the flange 26. The purpose of this is tomove the sleeve 17 away from the end of the hub 18 of the pulley 7 andafter this action the sleeve and pulley are both moved together. In thisway the sleeve 17 is held from frictional engagement with the hub of thedriving-pulley while the shaft 3 is at rest and consequently theconstant rotation of the pulley will not cause wear on the end of thesleeve.

To stop the machine automatically upon the breakage or exhaustion of asupply yarn the mechanism operates as follows: Referring to Fig. 4, thefeeler-lever 57 is adapted to be tilted into position to bring its lowerend into the path of the brake-arm 62 by the action of the drop-wires,not here shown. When one of the levers 57 is so actuated its movementwith the turret in the direction indicated by the arrow a causes it towipe slack yarn will across the top of the arm 62 and the latter will beswung'in the direction indicated by the arrow 03. This movement of thearm 62 .the staple 91 engaging the slot 93 in the member 85 will exert apull on the brakering to continue the movement of the latter in thedirection indicated by the arrow 0, Fig. 1. The initial movement of thebrakering from the arm 62 brings the beveled faces 72 and 73 of thewedge-blocks 71 and 75 into contact and when the movement of the ring iscontinued the engagement of the wedges forces the ring bodily upward tobring its beveled face 68 into frictional engagement with the face 69 onthe turret 61. There being a plurality of the pairs of wedge-blocksspaced equidistantly around the machine, the brake-ring will be carriedup evenly to effect a firm engagement with the turret. Furthermore, asthe brake-ring becomes firmly engaged with the turret the latter willhave a tendency to rotate the ring in the same direction and thisintensifies the thrust of the wedge-blocks so that a cumulative brakingforce is secured.

The purpose of the spring 94 on the member 85 is to act asa buffer orshock-absorber to prevent injury to the operators hand when the machineis being started manually. Sometimes when the machine is first started,before the yarns are under proper tension, a allow its drop-wire toremain depressed and this in turn causes one of the levers 57 to remainin the path of the arms 62. The operators hand is held on the lever 32for a moment after the machine is started to insure that thestopping-mechanism will not act to release the detent lever 57 engage anarm 62 and if such engagement occurs the ring 55 will be given a slightthrust around its bearing on the machine frame. The force of this thrustis taken up by the spring 94 which yields sufiiciently to allow themovement of the brakering without forcing the lever 33 rigidly againstthe operators hand. It will be understood, however, enough to move thebrake-ring back into its initial position when the lever 33 is shiftedby the lever 32 to start the machine.

' It will be obvious that various modifications might be made in theform and arrangement of my mechanism for adapting and this movement ofthe lever' pawl should a that the spring 94 is stiff the improvementsshown to different structures of machines. Therefore without limitingmyself to the exact construction shown, what I claim is 1. In a braidingmachine, the combination With a rotating turret, of a brake-ring adaptedto engage said turret, automatically-operated means to bring itvintoengagement with the turret, manually-operated means to return the ringto its initial position, and resilient means between the ring and themanually-operated means to prevent shock on the latter when the rotatingmeans for the ring are operated during its manual operation.

2. In a braiding machine, the combination with a rotating turret, of abrake-ring adapted to engage said turret, automatically-operated meansto rotate said ring, means brought into engagement by the rotation ofthe ring to carry the latter into engagement with the turret,manually-operated means to return the ring to its initial position, anda spring connecting the ring with said manually-operated means toprevent shock on the latter when the ring is rotated against the actionof the manual means.

3. In a braiding machine, the combination with a rotating turret, of abrake-ring adapted to rotate in the direction of the turret,automatically-operated means to move the brake-ring rotatively from theturret, means actuated by said ring in its rotation to carry thebrake-ring into on gagement with the turret, manually-operated means toreturn the ring to its initial position, and a spring interposed betweenthe ring and said manually-operated means to prevent shock on the latterwhen the ring is moved from the turret.

4. In a braiding machine, the combination with a rotating turret, of abrake-ring adapted to rotate in the direction of the turret,automatically-operated means to rotate the ring, wedges brought intoengagement by the rotary movement of the ring to carry the latter intoengagement with the turret, means to operate the ring to remove thewedges from engagement, and a spring interposed between said means andthe ring to prevent shock on the former when the ring is rotated againstthe action of said means.

5. In a braiding machine, the combination, with a rotating turret, of abrakeringadapted to tomatically-operated means to be engaged with saidturret, au-

engage said ring with the turret, manually-operated means to releasesaid ring from the turret, and resilient means connecting the ring withsaid releasing means to prevent shock on the latter during the manualoperation of the ring.

6. In a braiding machine, the combinarotate the ring to v tion with arotating turret, of a brake-ring adapted to be engaged with said turret,automatically-operated means to engage said ring with the turret, detentmeans to pre vent the operation of said ring, means to release the ringfrom engagement with the turret and to lock the detent means, andresilient means connecting the brake-ring with the releasing means toprevent shock on the latter during manual operation.

'7. In a braiding machine, the combination with a rotating turret, of abrake-ring adapted to engage said turret, automatically-operated meansfor engaging the ring with the turret, a lever to operate said ring, adetent to hold said lever from operation, means connecting said lever tomove the ring, and a spring interposed between said means and the ringto prevent shock on the lever when the ring is moved against the actionof the lever during manual operation of the latter.

8. In a braiding machine, the combination with a rotating turret, of abrake-ring adapted to be moved in one direction to cause it to engagethe turret, automaticallyoperated means for moving the ring to engage itwith the turret, a lever connected positively to the ring to move thelatter manually to engage the turret, and resilient means between thelever and the ring to adapt the ring to be moved in the oppositedirection through manual operation of the lever.

9. In a braiding machine, the combination with a rotating turret, of abrake-ring 55 adapted to engage said turret, automatically-operatedmeans for effecting such engagement, a lever 83 for manually operatingthe ring, a member 91 connecting said l ver with the ring, and a spring94: arranged to take the thrust of the ring against the lever.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SIMON W. \VARDVVELL.

Witnesses DANIEL MCNIVEN, ARTHUR A. ARMINGTON.

